UK halts 'Israel' trade talk, imposes sanctions amid Gaza invasion
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The UK has suspended free trade negotiations with "Israel" and imposed new sanctions on West Bank settlers following the occupation's ground invasion of Gaza.
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Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy listen during a meeting between the UK and the European Union to discuss closer ties, London, Monday, May 19, 2025 (AP)
The United Kingdom has halted free trade talks with "Israel", Foreign Minister David Lammy announced on Tuesday, and imposed new sanctions on West Bank settlers, in the wake of the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, marking a new escalation to the occupation's genocidal war.
Foreign Minister David Lammy stated that the military offensive would not lead to the captives' return, demanded "Israel" allow aid to enter Gaza, and denounced what he characterized as "extremism" among some members of "Israel's" government.
"We cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration. It is incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship," Lammy stated, adding, "Frankly, it's an affront to the values of the British people."
"Therefore, today, I'm announcing that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement."
UK, France, Canada condemn Israeli escalation
Britain, together with France and Canada, condemned "Israel's" military escalation in Gaza in a Monday joint statement where the three countries demanded the removal of aid blockades and threatened "further concrete actions" should the offensive persist.
"I want to put on record today that we're horrified by the escalation from Israel," British PM Kier Starmer said in Parliament on Tuesday, reiterating that the only way to free the captives is a ceasefire, the UK's opposition to illegal settlements in the West Bank, and calling for scaling up humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.
Britain imposed sanctions on several West Bank settlers and groups connected to violence against Palestinians, adding to Britain's earlier sanctions in 2024 against several settlers and settler organizations that were linked to violence targeting Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
"We are demonstrating again that we will continue to act against those who are carrying out heinous abuses of human rights," Lammy stated.
Netanyahu: We are going to take over all of Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that pressure on "Israel" was “approaching a red line,” necessitating the resumption of aid into Gaza to press ahead with its ground assault.
“[US] Senators I know as supporters of Israel… come to me and say, ‘We’ll give you all the help you need to win the war… but we can’t be receiving pictures of famine [in Gaza],” Netanyahu said in a video released on his personal Telegram channel.
However, the premier did threaten that "Israel is going to take over all of Gaza, that’s what we are going to do.”
